The present invention relates to chemoprotective compounds and a method
for producing chemoprotectant precursor-enriched extracts from crucifer
seeds. More particularly, a method is provided for producing
chemoprotectant precursor-enriched extracts from radish seeds with
increased ratio of glucoraphanin to glucoraphenin. The general method
comprises preparing an aqueous extract, contacting the aqueous extract
with an adsorbent, removing the adsorbent to obtain a
glucosinolate-containing extract, drying the glucosinolate-containing
extract to obtain a dried glucosinolate-containing extract, mixing at
least a portion of the dried glucosinolate-containing extract with a
solvent to form a glucosinolate-containing suspension, clarifying the
glucosinolate-containing suspension, contacting the
glucosinolate-containing suspension with a catalyst, and introducing
hydrogen for a time sufficient to obtain a chemoprotectant
precursor-enriched extract. The chemoprotectant precursor-enriched
extracts may be further processed to form a chemoprotectant
precursor-enriched isolate or processed for use in various applications,
including incorporation into a variety of food products and
pharmaceuticals.